In today’s world of overhyped news, there’s always that scare-mongering click-bait story (often the kind that circulates on social media sites such as Facebook) that declares so-and-so storm a Category 6 hurricane.

Hurricane Irma, by the way, formed in September 2017 and was one of the strongest hurricanes on record. It was also the longest-lasting Category 5 hurricane to form in the Atlantic Ocean during the satellite era. But Irma was not a Category 6 hurricane.

So…

What is a Category 6 hurricane?

Why don’t Category 6 hurricanes officially exist?

Who decides whether or not there’s ever such a thing as a Category 6 hurricane?

The Myth Of The Category 6 Hurricane

Category 6 hurricanes are one of the biggest myths in all of popular meteorology.

Until the National Weather Service officially declares Category 6 as a real hurricane classification, Category 6 hurricanes exist only in the world of fake news on the Internet.

Their myth is perpetuated by headline generators who want to grab attention and scare the public into thinking that the next big hurricane is going to be apocalyptic.

It comes down to this: there simply is no such thing as a Category 6 hurricane. Period.

When the Saffir-Simpson hurricane categories were developed in 1971 by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson, they created a system in which Category 5 hurricanes represent the most severe type of hurricane.

Category 5 hurricanes must maintain sustained winds of at least 157 miles per hour (mph). The key phrase there, of course, is “at least 157 miles per hour.”

A Category 5 hurricane is classified as catastrophic. And there’s nothing worse than catastrophic.

Also, Category 5 hurricanes aren’t confined to a certain range of wind speeds — like lower-category hurricanes are. For example, most other categories in the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale have spreads of about 14 to 26 mph each. Category 5 does not — it includes everything greater than 157 mph.

But not all Category 5 hurricanes are created equal. In fact, there have been a few Atlantic hurricanes in history (some call them superstorms) that have had mind-blowing recorded wind speeds of 180 miles per hour or more:

Hurricane Allen, 1980 — 190 miles per hour

Labor Day Hurricane, 1935 — 185 miles per hour

Hurricane Gilbert, 1988 — 185 miles per hour

Hurricane Wilma, 2005 — 185 miles per hour

Hurricane Irma, 2017 — 185 miles per hour

Hurricane Mitch, 1998 — 180 miles per hour

Hurricane Rita, 2005 — 180 miles per hour

All of those were Category 5 hurricanes.

There has never been a Category 6 hurricane.

And notice that all of the hurricanes listed above that formed during the social media era (we’ll say those that have formed since 2005) were not as strong as the 3 strongest hurricanes — which all happened before 1990.

My point? None of the so-called Category 6 hurricanes you’ve heard about in recent years was ever as strong as (or stronger) than the strongest Category 5 hurricane — Hurricane Allen in 1980 — which occurred well before the era of social media news hype.

Debating Category 6 Hurricanes With Your Friends

It seems people are arguing more than ever about the things they see on the Internet — everything from politics to the Boston Red Sox vs. the New York Yankees, global warming, you get the idea.

Well, I won’t get into politics, and my mom’s family was from Boston (go, Red Sox).

But I’ll be happy to share my thoughts on climate change and Category 6 hurricanes — both of these being concepts that may (eventually, at least) go hand-in-hand and often stir up heated debates among the best of friends.

Some scientists even say climate change is indicative of a natural cycle that’s being accelerated by carbon emissions and other human-influenced factors — so a mixture of factors. This might be the most scientifically accurate answer. Though, I’ll leave that determination to the scientists (a group of which I don’t presently consider myself a member).

Regardless of the cause, most indications point to a warming climate. (And, by the way, any record snowfall in your neck of the woods doesn’t negate the trends that are happening everywhere else in the world!)

I’m a roller coaster junkie, a weather enthusiast, a frequent traveler, and a numismatist. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. I’m a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG). I’ve also been studying meteorology and watching weather patterns for years. I enjoy sharing little-known facts and fun stuff about coins, weather, travel, health, food, and living green… on a budget. I work from home full-time as a journalist, reporter, and author.

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I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money -- so I write about "outside the box" ideas that most wouldn't think of. (I've written over 3,000 articles here so far!) As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I'm truly passionate about. I've worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo -- to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). Read More…

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